SUNDERLAND officials will target Real Madrid assistant Paul Clement this summer as they look to appoint a permanent head coach.

The Black Cats hierarchy will not be making any formal moves to appoint Gus Poyet’s successor until the end of the season, by which time they will know whether they are planning for another year in the Premier League or a campaign in the Championship.

Dick Advocaat will be considered for an extended role, with the Dutchman understood to be interested in prolonging his tenure beyond the end of the season despite having previously insisted that he was only willing to take on a short-term position.

However, sporting director Lee Congerton is determined to be as meticulous as possible as he ponders the biggest decision of his reign, and is keen to speak to as many potential candidates as possible before making a formal job offer.

Clement is understood to be at the top of his wanted list, with the highly-respected coach ready to take on his first managerial position after a series of high-profile appointments in a number two capacity.

The 43-year-old began his coaching career at Chelsea’s youth academy in 1996, and after a brief spell at Fulham, returned to Stamford Bridge in 2007, initially working with the club’s under-16 team.

He began to work with the first team after he was promoted by Guus Hiddink, and became even more prominent during Carlo Ancelotti’s managerial reign.

He worked at Blackburn following Ancelotti’s departure from Chelsea, but linked back up with the Italian at Paris St Germain and followed him to Real Madrid in 2013.

He was offered an opportunity to take over at QPR following Harry Redknapp’s departure in early February, but rejected Tony Fernandes’ approaches as he did not want to leave the Bernabeu halfway through a season.

However, with Ancelotti’s future beyond the end of the current campaign uncertain, he has told some of his closest associates that he would be interested in a return to the Premier League this summer.

Whether Sunderland can offer him a top-flight position remains to be seen, but whatever division the Black Cats find themselves playing in next season, Clement has indicated that he would be willing to discuss the possibility of a move to the Stadium of Light.

Crucially, Congerton was also at Chelsea during the period when Clement was there, working first as a youth-team coach and then stepping up to the position of chief scout after Frank Arnesen was appointed as sporting director.

The pair will have come into reasonably close contact during their time in West London, and while Ellis Short will take a keen interest in the recruitment of Gus Poyet’s permanent successor, it will be Congerton who plays the decisive role in the process.